Re: The Ex-Muslim label
Reply #38 - April 11, 2011, 03:13 PM
Some thoughts on atheism, which could equally be a applied to Ex-Muslim:
I don’t call myself an atheist because it represents my spiritual or moral outlook in a nutshell or handy label. Because it doesn’t, no more than theist represents a spiritual or moral outlook. There is a whole spectrum of different beliefs and moral alchemy under the umbrella terms of theism and atheism. It isn’t even necessarily a claim or statement of belief or faith for me. It doesn’t denote my personal spiritual path, political denomination, sexuality, likes or dislikes, hopes or dreams. The only thing you could possibly guess about me as a person if I say I’m an atheist is that I don’t believe in the existence of any of the current selection of deities and cartoon entities on offer. If that’s enough for you to sum me up, I don’t even wanna talk to you anyway. You’re boring. You’re not interested in me and I’m certainly not interested in you. Lets part ways and not waste each others time.
The main reason I call myself an atheist is because, in 2010, its still a controversial affiliation with so much unnecessary stigma attached. I call myself an atheist as a measure of support and a show of solidarity with those worse off than me who are isolated in communities that would actively discriminate against them should they make themselves known, and who remain in the closet unable to express themselves freely for fear of upsetting or incurring the wrath of loved ones, persecution, social exclusion and alienation, harassment, bullying, or even death. I want to be counted amongst them, for what it is worth. And it is worth something. There are people out there who are drowning and suffocating, who need others to identify with, even complete strangers half a world away. Its understated how much just a nod, an acknowledgment, a bit of validation can mean to some people. This reason alone is enough for me to wear the atheist label with pride, wholeheartedly and unashamed.
We feel so isolated sometimes, but humans are not meant to be alone. They'll take what they can get, be that a normal happy family, or a compromise in some form of social outlet, or hard brothers and sisters in blood who watch each others back living in dark streets. We all need to belong, need to be understood and appreciated. We move through life, trying to establish ourselves and make our mark, discover our sense of identity, trying to be unique, but all the time silently crying out for others just like us. There are no sign posts sometimes. You end up where you end up. It is understated how much simply hearing a few simple words from someone else can help you find your way. When you learn you are not alone, things can change in profound ways. It’s a spark that ignites you. When you find out others are going through what you are going through, you no longer need to feel guilty for it, because you know you are not flawed or wrong, just different. It isn't a bad thing to be different. This typically is what religious institutions have preyed upon, often having created this atmosphere or alienating individuals to this extent in the first place. Religion is a door that is always open - for the weak, the meek, the lost, for the predatory, for the manipulative, for the corrupt, for the abused and the abuser. They are, of a kind, reaping what they have sewn.
For me, there is pride in separating myself from the religions of the world and calling myself an atheist. This is before we even get into armchair philosophical discussions, intellectual masturbation or anal-retentive definition arguments. I don’t relate to any of the religions currently preaching in this world, disagree wholeheartedly and often furiously with practically all their dogma and pseudo-philosophy. For me, the word atheism symbolises a disconnect from these religions, rejecting them, drawing a line and defending it. I think the fact that atheism isnt a religion or institution is what gives it its power, and more power to it if it ever becomes something bigger. There is a certain amount of dignity and a sense of individuality - freedom. Religion is for cattle and easy-mode living, for people who wish to buy their personality off of a mythology section bookshelf. I call myself an atheist because I identify with those lone voices of dissent in worse situations than me, where I was once upon a time, and I am an advocate of any form of solidarity against the institutions that go out of their way to alienate me and many others. I’ll stand and be counted amongst the minority who are in the closet and surrounded by religious deadheads and zealots, so that they might know they are not alone, and that they are one of many, and that it will get better. I’m quite happy to bear the stigma attached to atheism, and I’m quite willing to tear the face off anyone who has a problem with that, for myself and on behalf of anyone who stands with me. And I will continue to call myself an atheist until it is fully and unconditionally accepted and becomes a redundant term.
Too fucking busy, and vice versa.
Topic: The Ex-Muslim label